Use of animal cells for screening probiotic bacteria strains

Abstract

The present invention relates to an in vitro and/or ex vivo method of screening probiotic bacterial strains. The present invention also relates to a method of assessing quality of probiotic culture. In addition, the present invention relates to use of animal cells in screening of a probiotic strain. The present invention also relates to use of animal cells in assessing quality of probiotic culture.

1 - 23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . A method of screening a probiotic strain comprising growing bacteria on and/or in the presence of an animal cell in vitro and/or ex vivo and detecting the extent of the growth of the bacteria. 
     
     
         25 . A method of isolating a probiotic strain comprising screening bacteria according to the method of  claim 24 , selecting the bacterial strains growing well and isolating them. 
     
     
         26 . A method of assessing quality of probiotic culture comprising growing bacteria on and/or in the presence of an animal cell in vitro and/or ex vivo and detecting the extent of the growth of the bacteria. 
     
     
         27 . A method of estimating a dose of a probiotic needed for a desired effect comprising growing bacteria on and/or in the presence of an animal cell in vitro and/or ex vivo and detecting the extent of the growth of the bacteria. 
     
     
         28 . The method as claimed in  claim 24 , wherein the animal cell is a cell of mucosal origin. 
     
     
         29 . The method as claimed in  claim 24 , wherein the animal cell is a fibroblast. 
     
     
         30 . The method as claimed in  claim 24 , wherein the animal cell is a human cell. 
     
     
         31 . The method as claimed in  claim 30 , wherein the cell is selected from HT-29 cells, Caco-2 cells, HGF-1, and/or HuTu80 cells. 
     
     
         32 . The method as claimed in  claim 24 , wherein the bacteria belong to  Lactobacillus  or  Bifidobacterium  genera. 
     
     
         33 . A probiotic strain discovered by the method of  claim 24 , wherein the growth of probiotic strain on and/or in the presence of an animal cell in vitro and/or ex vivo is higher than the growth without the presence of an animal cell. 
     
     
         34 . The probiotic strain as claimed in  claim 33 , wherein the animal cell is a human cell. 
     
     
         35 . A method of screening variation between growth of a bacterial strain on and/or in the presence of an animal cell in vitro and/or ex vivo derived from an individual affected with a disease and growth of the same strain on and/or in the presence of an animal cell derived from an individual not affected with the disease. 
     
     
         36 . The method as claimed in  claim 35 , wherein the animal cell is a human cell. 
     
     
         37 . The method as claimed in  claim 26 , wherein the animal cell is a cell of mucosal origin. 
     
     
         38 . The method as claimed in  claim 26 , wherein the animal cell is a fibroblast. 
     
     
         39 . The method as claimed in  claim 26 , wherein the animal cell is a human cell. 
     
     
         40 . The method as claimed in  claim 27 , wherein the animal cell is a cell of mucosal origin. 
     
     
         41 . The method as claimed in  claim 27 , wherein the animal cell is a fibroblast. 
     
     
         42 . The method as claimed in  claim 27 , wherein the animal cell is a human cell. 
     
     
         43 . The method as claimed in  claim 39 , wherein the cell is selected from HT-29 cells, Caco-2 cells, HGF-1, and/or HuTu80 cells. 
     
     
         44 . The method as claimed in  claim 42 , wherein the cell is selected from HT-29 cells, Caco-2 cells, HGF-1, and/or HuTu80 cells. 
     
     
         45 . The method as claimed in  claim 25 , wherein the bacteria belong to  Lactobacillus  or  Bifidobacterium  genera. 
     
     
         46 . The method as claimed in  claim 26 , wherein the bacteria belong to  Lactobacillus  or  Bifidobacterium  genera. 
     
     
         47 . The method as claimed in  claim 27 , wherein the bacteria belong to  Lactobacillus  or  Bifidobacterium  genera. 
     
     
         48 . A probiotic strain discovered by the method of  claim 25 , wherein the growth of probiotic strain on and/or in the presence of an animal cell in vitro and/or ex vivo is higher than the growth without the presence of an animal cell.